APTA Urges Congress to Fully Restore MAP-21 Funds

As Passenger Transport went to press, the House approved, by a 265-151 vote, a continuing resolution that includes across-the-board reductions to federal departments, agencies, and programs, including those authorized under MAP-21—cuts that APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy strongly urged the Congress to restore in a written statement. [More]

Three Agencies Receive $390 Million for Post-Sandy

FTA recently allocated nearly $390 million in federal Fiscal Year 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act funds to three major public transportation agencies affected last year by Hurricane Sandy—New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA); Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH), Jersey City, NJ; and Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)—to reimburse them for expenses incurred while preparing for and recovering from the storm. [More]

Rosa Parks Statue Unveiled at U.S. Capitol

Rosa Parks, who helped launch the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, has been honored with the placement of a life-sized statue in the famed Statuary Hall in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. [More]

600,000 Americans Have Commutes of 90 Minutes Plus, Says Census Bureau

 About 8 percent of U.S. workers—almost 11 million people—had commutes of 60 minutes or longer, and nearly 600,000 full-time workers had “mega-commutes” of at least 90 minutes and 50 miles in 2011, far exceeding the average one-way daily commute of about 25 minutes, according to a the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey (ACS), released on March 5. [More]

APTA Meets with Conference of Mayors

APTA leaders were invited to a special briefing with Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, president, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and other Philadelphia leaders to discuss public transportation’s role in community and economic development. [More]

Public Health & Public Transportation

APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy joined U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and representatives of the National Prevention Council in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House on Feb. 28. [More]

Stephens Is New GM in Midland-Odessa

Rob Stephens has joined the Midland-Odessa Urban Transit District (EZ Rider), Odessa, TX, as its general manager. He is a vice president of ­McDonald Transit Associates Inc., which operates public transit service under contract. [More]

Boyer Joins Atkins as CEO for North America

Joe Boyer will join Atkins in Tampa, FL, as chief executive officer of its North American region on March 18. [More]

COMMENTARY

Welcome to APTA’s 38th Annual Legislative Conference!
BY MICHAEL P. MELANIPHY, APTA President & CEO

We have a stellar program this year with distinguished speakers and experts, many of whom are highlighted in the pages that follow. You will hear from officials representing U.S. DOT, members of Congress, House and Senate staff who work on transportation issues, and our coalition partners. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Jeffrey A. Nelson!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Jeffrey A. Nelson, general manager, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK), Moline, IL; designated committee chair director, APTA Board of Directors; Chair, APTA Legislative Committee; member, Member Services, Small Operations, Bus and Paratransit CEOs, and Waterborne Transit Operations committees; and member, Diversity Council. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Kyle Bell!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Kyle Bell, program manager-environment and infrastructure, Policy Department. [More]

APTA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

Legislative Conference Brings Hundreds to Washington

Hundreds of public transit professionals have come to ­Washington, DC, to participate in educational sessions regarding the state of public transportation legislation and to hear from members of Congress as part of the 38th Annual APTA Legis­lative Conference, March 10-12 at the JW Marriott Hotel. [More]

Demystifying the Legislative Process

As this issue of Passenger ­Transport is reaching readers, APTA’s annual Legislative Conference is underway in Washington, DC. One focus of the conference is to encourage members of Congress to address the long-term ­solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, which finances most federal public ­transit ­programs. [More]

Making the Most of Your Visits with Elected Leaders

You don’t have to be a political insider to wield influence like one. The following tips will help you make the most of your visits with elected ­leaders, whether you’re meeting with members of Congress in Washington, DC, elected leaders in your statehouse, or city and county officials in your hometown. [More]

The U.S. Congress: Who’s Who; What’s What

Here's a list of members of the House and Senate committees and subcommittees of primary importance to the public transportation industry. [More]

From the Grassroots Up

As the White House and Congress debate the future of federal public transportation funding, policy, and programs, hundreds of cities, towns, and neighborhoods throughout the country are creating local coalitions to advocate for public transit at the grassroots level with the backing of the National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates (NAPTA), a national membership organization supported by APTA. [More]

A Quick Guide to MAP-21

APTA has developed several resources to help its members better understand the key provisions of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century legislation (MAP-21), which authorizes funding for federal transit and highway programs through September 2014. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

VMS Is First Business Member to Earn APTA Sustainability Gold

APTA has awarded Gold-level recognition to Visual Marketing Systems, Inc. (VMS), for its achievements related to the association’s Sustainability Commitment, a voluntary agreement to implement practices that prioritize protecting the environment, maintaining economic viability, and being socially responsible. [More]

Houston Metro Reopens Bridge Closed for Light Rail Construction

Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) marked the reopening of the Main Street Bridge over Buffalo Bayou on Feb. 25—one month ahead of schedule. The bridge had been closed since August 2011 to allow expansion-related construction of Metro’s North (Red) light rail line. Both light rail and cars will operate on the reopened span. [More]

Cleveland RTA, NASA Partner on Hydrogen-Fueled Bus Project

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Glenn Research Center in Cleveland have formed a partnership to operate a hydrogen-fueled bus to demonstrate the safety, fuel efficiency, economy, and reliability of hydrogen production and fueling. [More]

LYNX Breaks Ground in Kissimmee

The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) in Orlando, FL, recently joined Osceola County and the city of Kissimmee to break ground for a new multimodal ­public transit center in Kissimmee. [More]

Midwest Industry to Benefit from High-Speed Rail

Hundreds of manufacturers in the industrial Midwest and beyond are equipped to produce the components and materials needed to usher in high-speed rail emanating from Chicago’s transportation hub, according to Midwest High-Speed Rail Supply Chain, a report released this month by the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC), an environmental policy group. [More]

Operation Lifesaver, FTA Offer Rail Transit Safety Grants

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) has entered into a partnership with FTA to provide grant funds to public transit agencies and other government entities for rail transit safety education and public awareness initiatives. Grant amounts range from $20,000-$25,000 and require a 25 percent match, either as in-kind services or non-federal cash. [More]

APTA NEWS

Calling the ‘Best of the Best’ to Apply for APTA’s Annual Awards

APTA invites agency and business members to nominate top individuals and organizations for its annual awards programs, which recognize excellence in the public transportation industry in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The deadline for nominations is close of business (Eastern), Friday, April 5. [More]

Rail Conference Keynotes Set

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell will present the keynote address at APTA’s Rail Conference, June 2 to 5, in Philadelphia. [More]

May Bus Conference Features Hurricane Sandy Panel: New Sessions, Indy 500 Champ, Roadeo Contest

The 2013 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, set for May 5-8 in Indianapolis, features a special conversation on ­Hurricane Sandy led by a panel of public transit executives of agencies that were hardest hit by the devastating superstorm. [More]

Last Call: Nominate Projects, Initiatives for APTA’s Bus and Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards
BY MICHAEL SMITH, APTA Senior Specialist, Safety & Security

APTA members are encouraged to nominate their safety and security projects for APTA’s Safety & Security Excellence Awards program, newly expanded to include rail as well as bus transportation. The deadline for submissions is March 15th. [More]

LA’s Metrolink Employee Wins Call Center Challenge

Lauren Whetsel, an employee of Metrolink, Southern ­California Regional Rail Authority, Los Angeles, won the sixth annual 2013 Call Center Challenge, an event held during APTA’s Marketing and Communications Workshop in February. [More]

CASE STUDY

The Changing Face of Time: Bringing Analog Clocks Back
BY KATHERINE LEWIS, Special to Passenger Transport

Ian Macartney is a man on a mission. The president and founder of Lumichron, a clockmaker since 1984, wants to bring analog clocks back to public transit stations and platforms across the country. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

Passenger Transport announces the following hirings and promotions in public transportation agencies and business members. Items appear in People on the Move in the order in which they are received. [More]